Pakistan calls for global action over Israel’s killing of Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza

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Updated 10 April 2025
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Pakistan calls for global action over Israel’s killing of Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza

Pakistan calls for global action over Israel’s killing of Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza
  • Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan urges the world to put end to Israeli violations of international law
  • Israel deliberately killed 15 Palestinian emergency workers last month in a shooting incident captured on video

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan urged the international community on Thursday to take notice of Israel’s latest “barbarity” in the Gaza Strip while referring to the killing of 15 Palestinian emergency workers in a shooting incident captured on video.
The emergency workers were shot dead on March 23 and buried in shallow graves. Initially, the Israeli military claimed it opened fire after unmarked vehicles approached its soldiers in the dark, but later changed the statement after video footage emerged showing clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks with their lights on coming under fire.
The war in Gaza, which began in October 2023, has continued despite repeated international appeals for a ceasefire. The Palestinian death toll has reportedly surpassed 50,000, with women and children making up a significant portion of the casualties.
“Pakistan in the strongest possible terms condemns the continued aggression and atrocities committed by Israeli occupation forces in occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in Gaza,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said during his weekly media briefing.
“In the latest incidents of brutality, Israel has mercilessly killed 15 Palestinian emergency and civil defense workers,” he continued. “Pakistan demand that the international community should take immediate notice of this barbarity and stop this blatant violation of international law and charter of the United Nations.”

Khan highlighted his country’s condemnation of the continued aggression by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel, has consistently supported the Palestinian demand for an independent state based on pre-1967 borders.
It has repeatedly raised concerns over the Gaza conflict at various global forums, including the UN Security Council, and has called for a ceasefire and accountability for Israel’s actions.

 


PM Sharif urges global investors to tap into Pakistan’s minerals sector

PM Sharif urges global investors to tap into Pakistan’s minerals sector
Updated 9 sec ago
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PM Sharif urges global investors to tap into Pakistan’s minerals sector

PM Sharif urges global investors to tap into Pakistan’s minerals sector
  • Pakistan organizes three-day Health, Engineering and Minerals Show in Lahore with foreign delegates in attendance
  • Exhibition featured a range of high-tech stalls showcasing agricultural machinery, precious stones and pharmaceuticals

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this week invited global investors and friendly countries to tap into the country’s mining sector and take advantage of its economic opportunities, state-run media reported. 

Pakistan is home to one of the world’s largest porphyry copper-gold mineral zones, while the Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan province has an estimated 5.9 billion tons of ore. Barrick Gold, which owns a 50 percent stake in the Reko Diq mines, considers them one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold areas, and their development is expected to have a significant impact on Pakistan’s struggling economy.

In recent months, Pakistan has aggressively tried to tap into its huge reserves of natural resources to extract maximum economic advantage from them. Islamabad hosted a two-day minerals summit this month in which hundreds of delegates from around the world visited Pakistan to explore opportunities in its mining and minerals sector.  

“Pakistan is rich in talent, especially in IT and AI sectors,” Sharif said on Saturday while speaking at the three-day Health Engineering and Minerals Show [HEMS] in Lahore. 

“We are extending investment opportunities to friendly nations and inviting them to initiate joint ventures, particularly in the mining and minerals sector,” he added. 

The Pakistani prime minister stressed that over 60 percent of Pakistan’s population comprises the youth, describing them as intelligent and capable.

He called for equipping them with modern skills and professional training. 

“Our young generation is our asset, and with the right direction and innovation, they can drive Pakistan’s economic success,” he added. 

Sharif credited his government for increasing Pakistan’s exports, saying that its consistent policies had caused the country to boost production and rely less on imports. 

The exhibition featured a range of high-tech stalls showcasing agricultural machinery, precious stones, pharmaceuticals and surgical instruments, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said. 

Dignitaries and delegates from China, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the United States, Turkiye and other countries participated, with a total of 860 foreign delegates in attendance.

On this occasion, several bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed, the APP said. 


UAE deputy PM to arrive in Pakistan today to strengthen bilateral cooperation

UAE deputy PM to arrive in Pakistan today to strengthen bilateral cooperation
Updated 25 min 45 sec ago
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UAE deputy PM to arrive in Pakistan today to strengthen bilateral cooperation

UAE deputy PM to arrive in Pakistan today to strengthen bilateral cooperation
  • Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit reflects fraternal relations between both countries, says state media 
  • In recent months, Pakistan and United Arab Emirates have signed several agreements to boost economic ties

ISLAMABAD: UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan today, Sunday, on a two-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors, state-run media reported. 

Pakistan and the UAE have deepened their economic partnership in recent years. The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment, with over $10 billion invested in the last two decades.

“Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will undertake a two-day official visit to Pakistan from Sunday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

It said the high-level visit reflects the deep-rooted, fraternal relations that Pakistan and the UAE enjoy.

“It also underscores the two countries’ shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across all areas of mutual interest,” the state broadcaster added. 

The UAE is home to over a million Pakistani expatriates — the second-largest overseas Pakistani community globally — and a major source of remittance inflows to Pakistan.

Policymakers in Islamabad view the UAE as an ideal export destination due to its geographic proximity, which lowers freight costs and facilitates smoother trade.

In recent months, the two countries have signed a series of agreements to boost economic ties.
In February, during the Abu Dhabi crown prince’s visit to Pakistan, the two sides signed accords in mining, railways, banking and infrastructure.

Last year in January, Pakistan and the UAE signed deals worth more than $3 billion covering railways, economic zones and infrastructure development.

The UAE has become an even more crucial partner for Pakistan amid Islamabad’s efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth after suffering from a prolonged macroeconomic crisis. 


Pakistani Christian man to appeal death sentence for blasphemy

Pakistani Christian man to appeal death sentence for blasphemy
Updated 56 min 38 sec ago
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Pakistani Christian man to appeal death sentence for blasphemy

Pakistani Christian man to appeal death sentence for blasphemy
  • Christian man was convicted of blasphemy over allegations he had desecrated Qur’an in 2023
  • Allegations fueled attacks in Jaranwala town in which hundreds of houses, churches were burnt 

LAHORE: A Christian man accused of blasphemy in the eastern Pakistani town of Jaranwala will appeal against a death sentence handed down by an anti-terrorism court, his lawyer said on Saturday.

The 36-year-old man was convicted of blasphemy over allegations he had desecrated the Muslim holy book, the Qur’an, claims that fueled attacks on a Christian neighborhood in 2023 in which hundreds of houses and churches were torched and thousands of people forced to flee their homes.

“We will file an appeal in the High Court against it,” his lawyer Akmal Bhatti told Reuters, referring to the verdict delivered on Friday night.

Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. No one has been executed by the state for it, but numerous accused have been lynched by outraged mobs.

In the southern city of Karachi on Friday, a mob of 100-200 people beat a 47-year-old Ahmadi owner of a car workshop to death with bricks and sticks. Ahmadis are a minority group that have faced attacks in Pakistan, considered heretical and accused of blasphemy by some orthodox Muslims.
 


Pakistan’s central bank launches ‘Go Cashless’ drive at Karachi mall to promote digital economy

Pakistan’s central bank launches ‘Go Cashless’ drive at Karachi mall to promote digital economy
Updated 20 April 2025
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Pakistan’s central bank launches ‘Go Cashless’ drive at Karachi mall to promote digital economy

Pakistan’s central bank launches ‘Go Cashless’ drive at Karachi mall to promote digital economy
  • Campaign launched with 12 financial institutions aims to highlight benefits of digital payments
  • SBP’s drive aligns with Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen its financial systems, boost transparency

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Saturday launched its “Go Cashless” campaign in the southern Karachi port city, aiming to promote digital payment solutions and accelerate the country’s transition toward a cashless economy.​
The initiative, inaugurated by SBP Deputy Governor Saleem Ullah at a local mall in the Clifton neighborhood, is part of broader efforts to enhance financial inclusion and document the economy through increased adoption of digital transactions.​
“This ‘Go Cashless’ campaign is not just an event,” he was quoted in a statement released by the central bank. “It is part of a broader vision to accelerate Pakistan’s transition toward a digital economy.
The campaign, organized in collaboration with 12 leading financial institutions, seeks to educate vendors and customers about the benefits of digital payments.
It is also designed to highlight the SBP’s preference for a cash-lite economy where digital payments become the preferred choice for all, from small vendors to large retailers.​
Pakistan has witnessed significant growth in digital transactions in recent years. The SBP statement informed its instant payment system, Raast, processed over 892 million transactions amounting to Rs20 trillion ($72 billion) since its launch in 2021. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 alone, Raast handled 795.7 million transactions worth Rs6.4 trillion ($23.04 billion).​
The central bank highlighted mobile and Internet banking have also witnessed substantial growth, with a 62 percent increase in the number of transactions.
Digital transactions grew by 35 percent in FY24, with volume increasing from 4.7 billion to 6.4 billion, and their value reaching Rs547 trillion ($1.97 trillion).​
The SBP’s efforts align with Pakistan’s broader economic reforms aimed at strengthening financial systems and increasing transparency.
By promoting digital payments, the central bank can also document the economy more effectively and bring more individuals and businesses into the formal financial sector.​


Pakistan to open new maritime trade corridors to tap East African market — minister

Pakistan to open new maritime trade corridors to tap East African market — minister
Updated 19 April 2025
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Pakistan to open new maritime trade corridors to tap East African market — minister

Pakistan to open new maritime trade corridors to tap East African market — minister
  • The East African Community is an eight-nation bloc with a collective GDP of around $345 billion
  • The first phase of the plan will see the launch of direct shipping line between Karachi and Djibouti

KARACHI: Pakistan plans to launch new maritime trade corridors to strengthen economic ties with the East African Community (EAC), Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Saturday, describing the move as a strategic push to boost exports and regional connectivity.
The initiative aims to establish direct sea links with EAC member states, which include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The eight-nation bloc has a combined population of over 500 million and a collective GDP of around $345 billion.
“Our goal is to provide Pakistan’s industrialists, exporters and investors with a direct and efficient route to tap into the lucrative East African market,” Chaudhry said in a statement. “This strategic initiative will not only bolster our export potential but will also contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth by opening new avenues for trade and investment.”
He informed the first phase of the plan will involve the launch of a direct shipping line between Karachi Port and Djibouti, a key logistics hub offering access to neighboring markets such as Somalia and Ethiopia. However, he did not specify the exact launch date for the initiative.
The second phase involves the development of Gwadar Port into a long-term export hub focused on African trade.
An inter-ministerial consortium will be established to oversee implementation, coordinating efforts across trade, finance, diplomacy and technology. The government says the goal is to ensure Pakistani businesses are equipped to compete effectively in East Africa, particularly in agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing.
“By enhancing trade routes and improving connectivity, Pakistan is positioning itself as a leading player in the expanding East African market,” Chaudhry added.